Focal an Lae #141
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: olann (OL-uhn) [olən]
Meaning: olann = wool
Usage:
- olann chruach (OL-uhn KHROO-uhkh) [olən xruəx] = steel wool
- Is doiligh olann a bhaint de ghabhar. (ISS DEH-lee OL-uhn uh WAH-inch duh GHOWR) [is deliː olən ə van′t′ də ghaur]
= It’s hard to get blood from a turnip. (lit., tis hard wool to reap from goat)
- Is bog a d’fhás an olann air. = He’s an easy mark, easily taken advantage of. (lit., tis soft that grew the wool on-him)
History: Old Irish “olann” (possibly borrowed from early Welsh), Welsh “gwlan” and Breton “gloan” come from Common Celtic *wlanā-,
from Indo-European *wlə-nā-, the suffixed zero grade of *welə- (wool), which may be derived from the root *wel- (to pull, tear).
English “wool” is a clear cognate.